Bedbugs Found At Ritz-Carlton Hotel; Management Says Pests Have Been Eliminated


First Posted: 01/26/2012 11:45 am Updated: 01/26/2012 11:45 am

One of New York's swankiest hotels had some very unwelcome guests Sunday.

The New York Times reports The Ritz-Carlton Hotel found bedbugs in one of their rooms--which cost anywhere from $695 to $4,500 a night.

Hotel management, who made the discovery after a customer complaint, evacuated rooms next to the infested area, as well as those above and below it, while exterminators took care of the problem and staff received training on how to deal with the tiny bloodsuckers. Scott Geraghty, the hotel's general manager, told The Times the pests had been eliminated.

"Bedbugs are inevitable," he said. "They're brought in by guests and come in on luggage or things of that matter."

This isn't the first New York luxury hotel to be paid a visit from the wingless, six-legged creatures. Three people have separately accused the Waldorf-Astoria of harboring the critters-- one woman even claimed the bites caused her some severe trauma.

Bedbugs have been found at a slew of Gotham landmarks recently. The Empire State building, Abercrombie & Fitch and the AMC Empire 25 Theatres all have had their problems. One Brooklyn school was attacked by the bugs 31 times in 2011. And even the headquarters of the city's Department of Housing isn't safe!

For all the tourists looking to stay in New York City's finer hotels while visiting all the sites, may we suggest growing some thick body hair.

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One of New York's swankiest hotels had some very unwelcome guests Sunday. The New York Times reports The Ritz-Carlton Hotel found bedbugs in one of their rooms--which cost anywhere from $695 to $4...
One of New York's swankiest hotels had some very unwelcome guests Sunday. The New York Times reports The Ritz-Carlton Hotel found bedbugs in one of their rooms--which cost anywhere from $695 to $4...
One of New York's swankiest hotels had some very unwelcome guests Sunday. The New York Times reports The Ritz-Carlton Hotel found bedbugs in one of their rooms--which cost anywhere from $695 to $4...
One of New York's swankiest hotels had some very unwelcome guests Sunday. The New York Times reports The Ritz-Carlton Hotel found bedbugs in one of their rooms--which cost anywhere from $695 to $4...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
robhllnd2
01:00 PM on 01/29/2012
Getting rid of them is all we need to know, if that.
06:56 AM on 01/29/2012
I hear that roaches were holding their luggage!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
nicko68
12:09 PM on 01/27/2012
Let's outlaw more insecticides.
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outloud
Illegitimi non carborundum
04:30 PM on 01/28/2012
Glad to see you get the whole toxic, insect resistant thing.

You might but I don't want to sleep in a fog of poisonous residue.
04:00 AM on 01/27/2012
Nov 27th through December 4th 2011, I went on a cruise from New York to Florida and The Bahamas; on the NCL Gem, Norwegian Cruise Line. Before we set sail from New York I noticed a bedbug crawling on the curtain between one of the beds and the pull out sleep sofa in our cabin (a mini suite). We took the bedbug in a tissue to the Receptionist desk, and kindly asked to be moved to another cabin. Not only did they not move us to another cabin, (although the ship wasn't sold out); they had an attitude like we had no right to bring it to their attention. We should have: created a scene and bought it to all of the other guests attention, told guests in neighboring cabins, videotaped and posted it all over the internet. Don't sail on Norwegian Cruise Line or you risk being bit by bedbugs and bringing them home with you. Norwegian Cruise Line's customer service sucks, just like bedbugs!
11:33 PM on 01/26/2012
Well at least they addressed the problem. I've heard of so many complaints to hotels and motels that go completely ignored by the personnel. Good to see that the Ritz people took it seriously and took care of business.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
GaryNOVA
Fear My Micro-bio!!!!!!!!
06:23 PM on 01/26/2012
Goodnight Jr. Sleep tight! and don't let the bed bugs murder you in your sleep... :|
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Mailman
06:08 PM on 01/26/2012
Hotels no matter how expensive creep my out. I always feel like I'm sleeping in someone semen or urine.
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Absolute
Teacher and Old-School Liberal
05:46 PM on 01/26/2012
Bedbugs are everywhere in NYC. Why wouldn't they be at the Ritz?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
TheFabOne
From the Bottom To the Top, The Cream Of The Crop!
05:43 PM on 01/26/2012
I'll bet those kinds of bedbugs have attitudes, too.........like they're better than everyone else.

Occupy Waldorf.
03:49 PM on 01/26/2012
Indeed they were....and they had roaches carrying their luggage for them!
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03:35 PM on 01/26/2012
bed bugs are the worst. the welts are crazy.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Ken Koziol
01:52 PM on 01/26/2012
I was in Vegas last year, stayed at Paris came home and with in a week I found two in my house.
Now anywhere I stay my luggage never hits the floor and everything I use goes into the garbage bags I bring with me. As soon as I get home the garbage bag come out and into the wash and I spray the luggage down.
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rikster
buy the ticket-take the ride
01:14 PM on 01/26/2012
rats on the west side..bred bugs uptown....
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Rhuss Tee
01:08 PM on 01/26/2012
Why is this a story???!!!! The bedbugs don't know it's the Ritz-Carlton, they just know there are warm beds and people to bite! Even lavish hotels like the Ritz-Carlton have trash and dumpsters in the back. What's my point? It doesn't matter how much the rooms cost or whether there are gold toilets in the bathroom! Every structure with the proper conditions are subject to infestations and rodents! Must be slow news day. The reporters must have lost Newt in traffic!
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Lauralics
Loving "Pure" Michigan
01:03 PM on 01/26/2012
People need to be proactive when they visit a hotel. Luggage and clothing should never go on the floor, use the racks provided. Those critters will ride in your luggage or clothing to the next destination, your home.
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03:38 PM on 01/26/2012
exactly. i learned that the hard way from all my years of traveling. i got bed bugs 2x and it was horrible.
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Lauralics
Loving "Pure" Michigan
06:23 PM on 01/26/2012
People SHOULD dread bedbugs. I'm betting that the exterminators didn't get the buggers at the Ritz either. My husband travels and I lecture him every time, it's epidemic and costly disaster for any household.